The Digital Cooperation Organization (DCO) has launched the DCO AI Ethics Evaluator, a policy tool designed to help governments, organizations, and developers assess and mitigate ethical and human rights risks in AI systems. Introduced at the AI for Good Summit 2025 and WSIS+20 in Geneva, the tool operationalizes the DCO’s Principles for Ethical AI through a structured self-assessment, offering tailored recommendations for ethical AI implementation.
Author: AfricaBusiness.com
Major New Study Challenges the ‘Clothes Dumping in Africa’ Narrative
A new study by the IVL Swedish Environmental Research Institute, commissioned by Humana Lithuania, examines the export of second-hand clothing from Sweden to Kenya. Tracing the journey from collection and sorting to resale, the report dispels the myth of “clothes dumping” in Africa. Instead, it finds that the second-hand clothing trade supports a circular economy, creates jobs, and delivers environmental and economic benefits to both Europe and Kenya. The research emphasizes the importance of quality control and highlights Kenya’s robust mitumba market.
Driving Economic Transformation: The Role of ICT in Empowering Emerging Markets
The article explores the transformative role of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in driving economic growth in emerging markets, with a particular focus on the AfTIAS 2.0 program in Algeria. Through targeted initiatives, AfTIAS 2.0 supports startups and SMEs by improving competitiveness, providing training, and enabling global participation. The program emphasizes the role of digital transformation in fostering a thriving entrepreneurial ecosystem and empowering women and youth in the ICT sector. Despite challenges, AfTIAS 2.0 is helping Algeria and other Arab states leverage ICT to fuel sustainable economic development.
M-KOPA-branded Smartphones Surpass 1 Million Sales in First Year
M-KOPA, the leading fintech company focused on enhancing financial inclusion, has achieved an impressive milestone: over 1 million smartphone sales within its first year of launching its own brand. The smartphones, embedded with M-KOPA’s Smart Money Platform, provide users across Africa with access to affordable credit, health insurance, and device protection. The company’s flagship X20 model and additional devices like the X2, M10, and S34 are revolutionizing how smartphones can be used to drive financial independence, particularly in emerging markets. With an assembly plant in Nairobi, M-KOPA also contributes significantly to job creation and local economic development.
Trapped by tech? Avoid the CRM that costs more than money
Many South African companies find themselves trapped in a digital quicksand due to poorly executed CRM implementations that lead to costly, underperforming systems. Eldon Bothma and Hayley Blane from Braintree discuss the risks of choosing complex, feature-heavy CRM solutions without aligning them with business needs, leading to frustration and lost growth opportunities. Instead of focusing solely on technology, businesses should consider a strategic approach that prioritizes long-term scalability, clear objectives, and a phased implementation. By doing so, companies can unlock the true value of CRM systems, drive growth, and better position themselves for future advancements like AI and automation.
Weaponising the threat: The changing face of cybercrime
The landscape of cybercrime is evolving, with companies and high-profile individuals increasingly weaponizing cyber-attacks to disrupt competitors, spread misinformation, and tarnish reputations. In this article, Richard Frost from Armata Cyber Security delves into how cybercrime tactics have shifted from mere data theft to sophisticated strategies aimed at discrediting or misdirecting rivals. These malicious activities, which include false accusations and corporate espionage, introduce complex new challenges for businesses trying to protect their reputation and data. Frost emphasizes the importance of strategic defense mechanisms, strong security support, and heightened awareness to combat these growing threats.
The Hidden Complexity of Tokenisation: Why Implementation is Harder than it Looks
Tokenisation, a promising solution in mobile payments and e-commerce, offers secure, efficient, and seamless transactions by replacing sensitive data with randomized tokens. While the technology promises reduced fraud and enhanced security, implementing tokenisation is more challenging than it appears. This article explores the technical and regulatory complexities involved, including integration issues, vendor fragmentation, and compliance with evolving data protection laws. It also highlights how Stanchion’s expertise can help businesses overcome these challenges to unlock the benefits of tokenisation and virtual card issuing.
French and South African creative industries in the spotlight at ICC Forum 2025
The ICC Forum 2025, hosted in Pretoria, brought together French and South African leaders in the creative economy for a high-level platform designed to foster collaboration, innovation, and cultural exchange. The event, part of the France 2030 initiative, saw discussions on a wide range of topics including green design, digital innovation, and the role of creative industries in urban development. The Forum also featured dynamic panel discussions on sustainable fashion, digital arts, and heritage, showcasing the potential for long-term partnerships between French and South African creative industries.
Verto Introduces Auto Exchange: A Seamless Way for Businesses to Secure Optimal FX Rates
Verto, a leading global payment solutions provider, has launched Auto Exchange, a new feature designed to help businesses secure optimal foreign exchange (FX) rates automatically. This tool allows users to set target exchange rates and trade amounts within the Verto platform, enabling seamless execution without constant monitoring. By automating this process, businesses can save time and ensure they never miss out on favorable FX rates. Auto Exchange empowers customers to focus on growing their businesses while Verto manages the FX execution for them.
Cerebrium Raises $8.5M Led by Gradient to Scale the Leading High-Performance Serverless AI Platform
Cerebrium, a serverless AI infrastructure platform founded in Cape Town, has raised $8.5 million in a seed funding round led by Gradient, Google’s AI venture fund. The platform enables teams to build and scale multimodal AI applications without traditional complexity or cost. This funding will support Cerebrium’s growth and expansion, with the aim of meeting increasing demand in enterprise AI. Backed by Y Combinator and other investors, Cerebrium is already powering companies like Tavus and Deepgram, providing high-performance solutions for real-time voice, video, and data analytics applications.